Holy Moly! Religious App Joins List of Apple Rejects

The latest iPhone and iTouch application to get the ax, "Me So Holy," lets users superimpose their own faces on religious figures, including Jesus and photos of nuns. Once the new image is created, users can e-mail it to friends or upload it directly to Facebook.

Benjamin Kahle and Heather Lipner, the app's co-creators, received a rejection letter from Apple Monday, saying that the app "contains objectionable content" and is in violation of its developer's agreement.

The letter went on to say that, "Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."

On their blog, Kahle and Lipner wrote: "You may be familiar with recent snafus over the baby-shaker app and the rejection of the Nine Inch Nails apps. Our question is, is religion really to be placed in the same category as these violent apps? Sex, urine and defecation don't seem to be off-limits, yet a totally non-violent, religion-based app is.

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"We feel that Apple is being too sensitive to its perceived user group and are disappointed that this otherwise creative, freethinking company would reject such a positive and fun application. The message to developers is that they should think inside the box, rather than outside it."

Kahle and Lipner hope Apple reconsiders and that they'll emerge victorious from this latest "battle of values" playing out in the Apps store.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABCNews.com.

The company announced a couple of weeks ago that customers have downloaded more than 1 billion applications from the App Store. It has also said that amid the thousands of iPhone and iPod touch applications submitted to Apple, about 4 percent don't make the grade.

The description of the app said, "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!"

The program displays a black and white picture of a baby with the sound of crying. Users shake the iPhone to stop the crying until Xs appear on the eyes of the baby. The company behind the app, Sikalosoft, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Apple offered an apology Thursday, the same day the App Store reached 1 billion downloads.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said the game was "deeply offensive" and should not have been approved for sale, according to The Associated Press.

"We sincerely apologize for this mistake," Kerris said in a statement.

'I Am Rich'

Before Apple yanked this $999.99 iPhone and iPod Touch application from the App Store in August, eight people had purchased the functionless application.